Hermit...go to the Winter Sowing forum and read the FAQ...you don't have to pamper any plants...and you can plant them NOW...OUTSIDE...and leave them there.

Pot size...remember they have to grow in the pots until May, and they need room for their feet (roots) to grow...so you be the judge.

The varieties to be sown indoors either aren't suitable for WS (I already WS on suitable sorts).

I'm wondering the preference of *other people* on container size - not my discretion for a reason. Some people are completely comfortable with "plug" size and handling the younger plants, others don't feel comfortable with anything under 4 inches. That's why my question on what the preference was for MTPS. I've never traded with anyone who attends MTPS before. I know the preferences of others that I trade with, generally down to the personal preferences. I don't as yet have that info for/from those for MTP swapping. What I start up for myself is one thing - what I start for potential trades is another, and starting time dependent upon other people's preferences. That is also why I am attempting to arrange trades pre-MTPS. I don't generally over-sow by much, only enough to have some back-up for what might die off. I am one to sooner keep a back-up supply of seeds when possible. Over-sowing isn't so unlike over-ordering by places that get in live plants - and don't sell them all and then end up tossing plants. Wasteful.

If it weren't for the seeming preference for plants instead of seeds, I'd sooner swap seeds (where possible, not all species possible in that form)... but then again, I'm arranging some of that too, to take place before MTPS since seeds are easier to mail and then people can start their own when befitting for their mesoclimate or microclimate, WS if applicable, indoors or outdoors - whatever works best for them.

So, I still need to know other people's preferences...or if there is any running "standard"...

Hermit,
Plant size at the swap varies throughout the spectrum. There really is no standard. You will see people with 6' tall plants, and you will see a lot of seedlings grown in plastic drinking cups, etc. I usually have most of my houseplant type plants potted in 4" to 6" pots and most of my outdoor type plants (small trees, shrubs, perennials) planted in 6" to 2.5 gallon pots. Don't stress over what size people want. They will be much more picky about what types of plants you have than what size the pots are.
Brandon

What would you say, from observation I assume, would be the most sought after types of plants? "Pretties"? Veggies? Houseplants? Tropicals and subtropicals? Cacti & succulents? Or a fair mix of things?

Probably tropicals, but I would also like to see other's input on this. Seems like the things I expect to be of the least interest turn out to be what people can't get enough of and the stuff I think is really special is often ignored. I guess I am not good at predicting what people will want.

DonÂt even bother worrying about pot size. Like Brandon said, there will be every size imaginable there. I brought several 10'-12' Musa Bananas one year as well as seeds, 50 gallon trash bags full of Daylilies and container potted plants from Dixie cups size to one gallon sizes.

You can never go wrong with unique stuff. Tropicals are always a hit but the tried-and-true Daylilies and Iris are some of my favorites. Native plants are huge too. Anything goes! The varieties of plants that are brought to the MTPS are simply off the hook!!! You'll see plants that you never heard of or even knew existed. That is just part of the inimitable draw of the MTPS; these are NOT your box store plants. If we all brought the same stuff it would be kinda boring.

On most plants I like the smallest size with a decent-sized plant. I know that is vague. I guess I am saying don't pot-up a size before the swap because it is sometimes hard enough to fit the plants into your vehicle as it is.

My preference is definitely perennials. Houseplants are way down on the list. They might be slightly more amusing for the fall swap.

My current interest is unusual edibles - shrubs, vines, trees, etc.

Thanks for asking!